Mission Statement

The Department of Economics is committed to studentsí intellectual development by fostering an understanding and appreciation of economic forms of explanation and their relationships to other social sciences. The Department of Economics also stresses the importance of economic explanation by promoting interdisciplinary perspectives. Economics faculty members are dedicated to sound and effective pedagogy, to scholarship of the highest quality and to outreach to the local and business community. The department provides an intellectual foundation for appreciation and understanding of economic theory and policy at a level appropriate to each program of study. This foundation is developed within a broader educational perspective that stresses the importance of imaginative thinking, free inquiry and the pursuit of life-long learning. In this way, the program prepares students with the economic literacy necessary to cope with the challenges inherent in a world of accelerating change.

Marketable Skills

Analytical thinking capabilities highly valued by business, government and the nonprofit sector.

Writing and research skills with wide applicability in a variety of careers.

Statistical and econometric skills used in business and finance.

Preparation in critical thinking valued by graduate schools, including law, business, and arts and sciences.

Analytical skills valued by employers for internships in business, government and consulting.

Co-curricular Activities and Organizations

Economics Club (open membership)

Omicron Delta Epsilon (national honor society in economics)

Degree and Major Requirements

Economics majors may choose from a B.A., B.S. or B.B.A. degree. The B.A. and B.S. degrees are traditional liberal arts degrees that lead to a variety of career and graduate school options; the B.B.A. is designed to prepare students for careers in business administration.

The B.B.A. degree in economics requires a minimum of 120 credit hours of undergraduate work. Fifty percent of this work, 60 credit hours, must be taken outside of the College of Business.

In counting the 60 credit hours of non-business courses, B.B.A. students may include all hours taken in General Education (usually 41), up to a total of nine hours in economics ( GECON courses must be counted as economics) and three hours of COB 191, Business and Economic Statistics. The remaining hours must be taken from any department outside the College of Business. Students should carefully select these non-business electives to help them gain additional knowledge and expertise for their careers and personal lives.

Each economics major must participate in assessment to graduate. Assessment is conducted in the required 401 class.

Bachelor of Arts in Economics

The minimum requirement for a B.A. degree in economics is 30 credit hours of economics, including 16 credit hours of core courses and 15 credit hours of electives.

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

Credit Hours

General Education1

41

Foreign Language classes (intermediate level required)2

0-14

Philosophy course(s) (in addition to General Education courses)

3

Major requirements (listed below) and electives

63-74

120

1The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.

2The foreign language requirement may be satisfied by successful completion of the second semester of the intermediate level of the student’s chosen language (typically 232), or by placing out of that language through the Department of Foreign Language’s placement test.

Major Requirements

Required Courses

Credit Hours

ECON 201. Principles of Economics (Micro)

3

G ECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics

3

ECON 331. Intermediate Microeconomic Theory

3

ECON 332. Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory

3

ECON 385. Econometrics

3

ECON 401. Senior Assessment in Economics

0

Economics electives (at least six credits must
be at the 400 level, not including ECON 490
or ECON 499)

Recommended Schedule for B.A. in Economics Majors

During the first two years, students should complete most of the General Education program and the following required courses in economics:

ECON 201. Principles of Economics (Micro)

GECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics

Other required course work that should be completed during the first and second years includes:

COB 191. Business and Economic Statistics

CIS 301. Information Technology Tools and Methods

MATH 205. Introductory Calculus I or

MATH 235. Analytic Geometry and Calculus

Third and Fourth Years

B.A. economics majors should complete ECON 331, Intermediate Microeconomic Theory and ECON 332, Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory, by the end of their junior year. While most majors will complete the 400-level requirements in economics during their senior year, students may take a 400-level course during their junior year if the prerequisite for the course has been met.

Recommended Schedule for
B.S. in Economics Majors

During the first two years, students should complete most of the General Education program and the following required courses in economics:

ECON 201. Principles of Economics (Micro)

GECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics

Other required course work that should be completed during the freshman or sophomore years includes:

COB 191. Business and Economic Statistics

CIS 301 Information Technology Tools and Methods

Choose one of the following:

MATH 205. Introductory Calculus I

MATH 235. Analytic Geometry and Calculus

Third and Fourth Years

B.S. economics majors should complete ECON 331, Intermediate Microeconomic Theory and ECON 332, Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory, by the end of their junior year. While most majors will complete the 400 level requirement in economics during their senior year, students may take a 400-level course during their junior year if the prerequisite for the course has been met.

Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics

The minimum requirement for a B.B.A. degree in economics is 30 credit hours of economics including 19 credit hours of core courses and 12 credit hours of electives. B.B.A. students also complete the core business requirements. The credit hour requirements for each of the components are as follows.

Degree Requirements

Required Courses

Credit Hours

B.B.A. core courses 1

44-45

Economics major requirements

24

Free electives 2

3

General Education courses 3

42-45

Non-business electives 4

4-8

120

1Up to seven credit hours of core requirements in economics and calculus may also be taken for General Education credit. Students who take the General Education packages and courses recommended by the College of Business will have only 38 credit hours of additional B.B.A. core requirements.

2Any course offered by the university.

3The General Education program contains a set of requirements each student must fulfill. The number of credit hours necessary to fulfill these requirements may vary.

4May include no more than one 200-level economics course in addition to ECON 201, GECON 200 and any other course(s) not offered by the College of Business.

Major Requirements

Required Courses

Credit Hours

ECON 201. Principles of Economics (Micro)

3

G ECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics

3

ECON 331. Intermediate Microeconomic Theory

3

ECON 332. Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory

3

ECON 385. Econometrics

3

ECON 401. Senior Assessment in Economics

0

Economics electives (at least six credits must be at the 400 level, not including ECON 490 or ECON 499)

12

30

The B.B.A. degree in economics requires a minimum of 120 credit hours of undergraduate course work. Fifty percent of this work, 60 credit hours, must be taken outside of the College of Business. In counting the 60 credit hours of non-business courses, B.B.A students may include all hours taken in General Education (usually 41), up to a total of nine hours in economics ( GECON courses must be counted as economics) and three hours of COB 191, Business and Economic Statistics. The remaining hours must be taken from any department outside the College of Business. Students should carefully select these non-business electives to help them gain additional knowledge and expertise for their careers and personal lives.

Recommended Schedule for B.B.A. in Economics Majors

First Two Years

Students planning to major in economics must complete the 29-30 hour, lower-division B.B.A. core curriculum prior to enrolling in upper-division core courses, normally taken in the first semester of the junior year. It is expected that the lower-division core curriculum will be completed during the first two years of study along with all, or most, of the university General Education curriculum. Failing to complete all lower-division core requirements on time will delay enrollment in upper-division core and major courses until at least the second semester of the junior year.

Third and Fourth Years

Economics majors will follow the course schedule below to complete the final two years of their program. It is possible to deviate from this program but care must be taken to ensure that all course prerequisites are met.

Option A (for students with specific interests
in forests, fisheries and wildlife):

BIO 114. Organisms

4

BIO 124. Ecology and Evolution

4

41

Option B (for students with a more general interest in both environmental and natural resource issues):

GEOG 210. Physical Geography and Lab

4

GEOG 240. Natural Resource Conservation

3

Choose one of the following:

2-3

GEOG 310B. Environmental Impact – Vegetation/Wildlife

GEOL 310C. Environmental Impact – Hydrosphere (water)

39-40

Concentration in Financial Economics

The minimum requirement for a B.A., B.S. or B.B.A. degree in economics with a concentration in financial economics is 24 credit hours of required economics courses and 12 credit hours of required finance courses in addition to the other requirements for these degrees is described above.

Required Economics Courses

Credit Hours

ECON 201. Principles of Microeconomics

3

G ECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics

3

ECON 331. Intermediate Microeconomic Theory

3

ECON 332. Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory

3

ECON 372. International Finance

3

ECON 385. Econometrics

3

ECON 430. Monetary Theory and Policy

3

Economics elective (400 level, not including ECON 490, ECON 499 or )

3

ECON 401. Senior Assessment in Economics

0

24

Required Finance Courses

Credit Hours

FIN 345. Managerial Finance1

3

FIN 360. Money and Capital Markets

3

FIN 365. Intermediate Finance

3

FIN 380. Elemental and Derivative Securities

3

12

1May be taken as a part of COB 300.

Concentration in International Economics

Students who elect a major in economics (B.S., B.A. or B.B.A.) with a concentration in international economics are required to complete the following courses:

Required Courses

Credit Hours

ECON 201. Principles of Microeconomics

3

G ECON 200. Introduction to Macroeconomics

3

ECON 331. Intermediate Microeconomic Theory

3

ECON 332. Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory

3

ECON 370. International Trade

3

ECON/FIN 372. International Finance

3

ECON 385. Econometrics

3

Choose two of the following:

6

ECON 301. Economies in Transition

ECON 312. Comparative Economic Systems

ECON 365. Economic Development

Two 400 level economics electives

6

ECON 401 Senior Assessment in Economics

0

33

In addition, students completing this course of study must have a genuine international experience (such as an internship or semester abroad) and must complete a foreign language through the civilization course, including all of the prerequisites for that course.

Concentration in Socioeconomics

Students who elect a major in economics with a concentration in socioeconomics are required to complete the following courses.

Required Courses

Credit Hours

Choose four of the following:

ECON 301. Economies in Transition

3

ECON 306. The Economics of Women and The Family

3

ECON 307. The Economics of Aging

3

ECON 360. Labor Economics

3

ECON 365. Economic Development

3

ECON 382. Urban Economics

3

ECON 460. Human Resources

3

Choose four of the following:

G ANTH 195. Cultural Anthropology

3

SOCI 336. Race and Ethnicity

SOCI/SOWK 348. Introduction to Developing Societies

SOCI 337. Sociology of Gender

SOCI 339. Sociology of Women

SOCI 344. Work and Society

SOCI 345. Sociology of Occupations and Professions

SOCI 346. Leisure in Contemporary Society

Two 400 level economics electives

6

ECON 401 Senior Assessment in Economics

0

36

Minor Requirements

Economics Minor

The minimum requirement for a minor in economics is 18 credit hours in economics, including ECON 201, Principles of Economics (Micro); GECON 200, Introduction to Macroeconomics, and at least six credit hours of either 300 or 400 level economics courses. Students may not receive credit towards the minor in economics for both ECON 270 and ECON 370.

Preparation for Graduate Study in Economics

While not formal requirements, students intending to pursue graduate work in economics are encouraged to select as many of the following courses as possible:

Credit Hours

ECON 431. Advanced Microeconomic Theory

3

Choose one of the following:

3

ECON 430. Monetary Policy

ECON 432. Advanced Macroeconomics

ECON 484. Mathematical Economics

3

MATH 235-236-237. Analytic Geometry and Calculus I-II-III

12

TSC 210. Introduction to Technical and Scientific Communication

3

MATH 238. Linear Algebra with Differential Equations

4

MATH 318. Introduction to Probability Theory and Statistics

4

MATH 336. Elementary Differential Equations

3

PHIL 250. Introductory Logic

3

Credit by Examination

Credit in ECON 201, Principles of Economics (Micro) will be granted to students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Test in Microeconomics administered by the Educational Testing Service. Credit in GECON 200, Introduction to Macroeconomics, will be granted to students who achieve a grade of 4 or 5 on the Advanced Placement Test in Macroeconomics.